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Most Popular Police Dogs

MOST POPULAR POLICE DOGS

Perhaps the oldest canine profession is one of protection. Since the beginning of recorded time, dogs were used as personal protection as well as fierce weapons in war. It was only natural then that dogs would go on to help maintain law and order by lending their services to police forces. Dogs began their service sometimes at the beginning of the 20th century, thanks in no small part to organized kennel clubs that helped police forces develop a program in which dogs could be used.

What is it about German Shepherds that people love so much? Well, there’s a lot, and it’s not all about the fact that the breed makes great police dogs. Police dogs, such as the German Shepherd breed, have many qualities that make them applicable for the job. A successful police dog should be intelligent, aggressive, strong, and have a good sense of smell. Many police dogs that are chosen are male and remain unneutered to maintain their aggressive behavior, however, there are female police dogs which are used for rescue, tracking, and locating bombs and drugs.

The Malinois is a medium to large breed of dog, sometimes classified as a variety of the Belgian Shepherd Dog rather than as a separate breed. It is named after the Belgian city of Malines, where the breed originated. Its name is the French word for Mechlinian, which in Dutch is either Mechelse herder or Mechelaar (one from Mechelen). The breed is used as a working dog for tasks including detection of odors such as explosives, accelerants (for arson investigation), and narcotics; tracking of humans for suspect apprehension in police work; and search and rescue missions. The U.S. Secret Service uses the Malinois Dogs to guard the grounds of the White House.

They play vital roles with the police and custom and excise officials too. Labradors, along with spaniels, play leading roles in drug detection throughout the Western World. Patrolling borders at airports and ferry terminals, preventing illegal and dangerous materials from being brought into the country. Here they have been found to play an important role in sniffing out ‘bed bugs’! Labradors are also important members of our armed forces teams. Their incredible noses, bred to enable them to track wounded game, are also ideally suited to detecting tiny traces of explosive material.

While German Shepherds are often more strongly associated with police dogs, Doberman Pinschers have been valuable additions to the ranks of K-9 forces as well. Thanks to their intelligence and courage, not to mention their intimidating figure, Dobermans have served with distinction alongside their human counterparts. While there is a wide range of duties a police dog can be trained to perform, Dobermans are naturals when it comes to chasing and holding, as well as helping public order enforcement. In chasing and holding, a dog is trained to chase, find, or stop a subject in flight. It shouldn’t be assumed that these dogs are trained to be aggressive; rather, they are taught to enjoy this work and will only pursue a suspect when given a command from their handler.

Bloodhounds have a very, very good sense of smell. Researchers estimate that their sense of smell is at least 1,000 times stronger than a human’s. Police departments around the world have learned to use this special power to their advantage. This giant hound has 300 million scent receptors — more than any other breed. He is famed for his man-trailing abilities and is so reliable his evidence is admitted in court. Bloodhounds can not only follow a scent on the ground, they can also air scent. Like their cousin the Basset, they are built to be the perfect tracking dog.